The Senators signed Mark Borowiecki, their Binghamton captain, to a new two-year deal Wednesday that includes one-way money in 2014-15.

In essence, they're betting they won't be paying Borowiecki $600,000 to play on their farm team by then.

"I think the right way to look at it is, regardless of what your contract is at you've still got to earn it," said Borowiecki, who would make $550,000 if he cracked Ottawa's blueline next season -- minor-league coin if he doesn't. "Obviously I'm happy about (the one-way). It's just more of a push for me to make the next step. Hopefully, I'll have the odds in my favour."

The odds of the fifth-round, 2008 draft pick at least hanging around as a seventh defenceman next season slipped when the Senators signed veteran free agent Joe Corvo earlier this week. Already under contract are Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot, Chris Phillips and Eric Gryba, with the signings of restricted free agents Jared Cowen and Patrick Wiercioch considered mere formalities.

"Teams are going to sign guys," Borowiecki said of his reaction to the Corvo inking. "Management has things they feel they need to do. Anytime a guy comes in you're competing with, you take notice, but you can't really dwell on stuff like that. It's just another challenge for me."

By no means is Borowiecki, 24, conceding defeat in a battle for a job at training camp. But he is ready to make the most of more time in the minors, if, as expected, it's deemed to be needed.

The Kanata native admitted to being "bummed" about being sent down after six games last season. In talking with his family and girlfriend, however, he decided that he had "nothing to lose" in Binghamton.

The Senators wanted him to work on his offensive game, and that's what he did. Borowiecki had four goals and 10 assists -- or eight fewer points than he scored as a rookie in 2011-12 -- but he also played 20 fewer games.

"I know for me, there's definitely some stuff I need to work on," said Borowiecki. "I need to get more confident with the puck. That's the big thing for me -- especially the way the game is played now. You've got to be able to move the puck quickly. That's something I really worked on in Binghamton. If I do end up there this year, that's something I can really focus on. Hopefully make it a bigger part of my game."